Episode #1.1 (2 Jan. 1985)

As her children plot the takeover of her retail empire, Emma Harte plans her own counter-moves against them. Emma started life as a maid in the home of Adam Fairley, the wealthy local mill ... See full summary »

Director:

Don Sharp

Writers:

Lee Langley (screenplay), Barbara Taylor Bradford (novel)

Stars:

Jenny Seagrove, Barry Bostwick, Deborah Kerr

Cast

Episode cast overview, first billed only:
Jenny Seagrove	...	Young Emma Harte
Barry Bostwick	...	Maj. Paul McGill (credit only)
Deborah Kerr	...	Emma Harte
Diane Baker	...	Laura O'Neill (credit only)
Peter Chelsom	...	Edwin Fairley
John Duttine	...	Joe Lowther (credit only)
Peter Egan	...	Adam Fairley
Mick Ford	...	Frank Harte
Christopher Gable	...	Arthur Ainsley
Christopher Guard	...	Gerald Fairley
Dominic Guard	...	Winston Harte
Del Henney	...	Jack Harte
Gayle Hunnicutt	...	Olivia Wainwright
Barry Morse	...	Murgatroyd
Liam Neeson	...	Blackie O'Neill

Storyline

As her children plot the takeover of her retail empire, Emma Harte plans her own counter-moves against them. Emma started life as a maid in the home of Adam Fairley, the wealthy local mill owner. She works hard not only at the Fairley's but also in her own home taking care of her father, two brothers and a bedridden and dying mother. At the manor house, she is particularly attentive to Mrs. Fairley a depressive alcoholic who is unhappily married and whose sister has effectively replaced her in her marriage. Emma soon strikes a friendship with the youngest son Edwin but develops a deep dislike for the oldest boy Gerald. Mrs. Turner, the Fairley's cook warns her that working folk and the gentry don't mix but Emma doesn't care. When she becomes pregnant, she realizes just how far her friendship with Edwin goes and realizes that he will not do the right thing by her. She decides to take Blackie O'Neill's advice and heads for Leeds.

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Genres:

Drama | Romance

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Details

Country:

UK USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

2 January 1985 (UK)

Filming Locations:

Road Bridge, Aysgarth Falls, Aysgarth, Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

Portman Artemis Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

The storyline involving the older Emma and her family is supposed to be set in the late 1960s since she is about to turn 80 and it is established that Emma was 15/16 in 1905. However, the cars (including the UK licence plates), technology (electronic weighing machines, car phones, etc) and fashions seen are clearly items that belong in the 1980s when the mini-series was filmed.

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